Gas-buoy.



G. B, 1906. RENEWED MAY 21, 1907.

Patented Feb. 24, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N. GOODYEAR.

1 GAS BUOY. APPLICATION IILED AUG. 8, 1906. RENEWED MAY 21-, 1907. 1,088, 1 46.

Patented Feb. 24, 19m

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

2? by r-v WQZM/L Attyi UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NELSON GOODYEAR, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR 'ro BROOKS H. WELLS, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

GAS-BUOY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 24, 1914.

Application filed August 8, 1906, Serial No. 329,637. Renewed May 21, 1907. Serial No. 374,924.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NELSON (J'rooDYnAR, a citizen of the United States, and resident of the borough of Manhattan, city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas- Buoys, of which the following is a specification, accompanied by drawings.

This invention. relates to buoys which are lighted by gas, as for instance acetylene gas, which is produced by a generator forming part of the buoy.

The objects of the invention are to improve upon the construction and operation of such buoys.

Another object is to secure efficient mechanical means certain in their operation for controlling the generation of gas.

Further objects of the invention will hereinafter appear and to these ends the invention consists of a gas buoy for carrying out the above objects embodying the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts having the general mode of operation substantially as hereinafter fully described and claimed in this specification and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which,-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a buoy embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional elevation enlarged taken through the float and carbid feeding mechanism; and Fig.3 is an enlargeddetail view of apart of the carbid feeding mechanism.

Referring to the drawings A represents the body or float of the buoy an B is a suit; able lantern supported in any, s itable manner from the float as by means of the frame work C. The float is adapted to be anchored as by means of the chain or chains D, and within thefloat is a generating chamber E in this instance shown of cylindrical form and having an opening in its bottom for the ingress and egress of water. On the bottom of the float is preferably arranged a weighted cap F having a valve seat G, with which cooperates a valve H carried by the valve rod I, and means are provided for controllin said valve. As shown, the valve rod I 18 supported by a bracket J extending from the side of the-generating chamber and by another bracket K mounted on the outside of the float. The point at which the rod I passes through the. top of the float is sealed by a stufling box L. Means are provided with a stop or collar Q seated between Handles P are provided for rotating the sleeve 0, and the rod I is prothe sleeve 0 and a cap R, which cap is suitably connected with the sleeve 0. The on er end of the rod I is provided with a nut or squared portion to take a wrench or spanner and enable the rod I to be rotated to agitate the blades M. By turning the sleeve 0 by means of the handles P it will be seen that the rod I will be moved longitudinally in the bracket K to open or close the valve H.

Suitable means are provided for automatically feeding the carbid to the water in the generator tank E. In this instance a carbid feeding mechanism is inclosed in the carbid hopper T, which has a conical bottom U having an opening controlled by the valve mechanism. As "shown, and in accordancewith this invention the valve V is controlled by means of an expansible and collapsible diaphragm Y opposed by a suitable spring Z, the diaphragm and spring and related,

The valve V and stop W parts being suitably inclosed in the casing a.

A rock shaft 1) is pivoted in the casing X and is provided with an arm 0 fast thereon engaging the valve rod (3 connected to the valve V. Another arm 6 is loose on the rock shaft 1) and bears against a horizontal rod f provided with a hinge joint g securing it to the diaphragm Y. The rod 2' forming a continuation of the .rod f is secured to and passes through the diaphragm and through a sealing sleeve h in the casing a. The outer end of the rod i is screw-threaded and provided with a nut j by means of which the throw of the diaphragm X is adjusted to prevent automatic feeding of carbid when desired. The carbid hopper T is provided with a suitable cap or cover 0 suitably held shown affording communication between the automatically thereafter.

I end of the arm 0 and on said rock shaft, there into the water and some outward against the working z" and allowing the springZ or the hand of the operator or both to actuate the feeding mechanism'tocause feeding, thereby forcing the stop p on the arm e loose on the rock.

shaft 6 against the stop on the arm 0 fast y raising the arm 0 and rocking the shaft, and raising the valve rod 0? and valve V' together with the shield W. Some carbid is permitted to drop gas is generated and the operation of the apparatus proceeds The diaphragm Y is so adjusted that when the gas pressure falls below a certain amount the spring Z forces the diaphragm- Y inward against the 'stop 9 on-the rod f, thereby raising the outer opening the carbid valve. When the ressure resumes its normal degree again t ediaphragm Y is forced ressure of the spring Z and the carbid val ve is closed. In this way a steady generation of By the terms gas buoy body and float I do not, of course, mean to exclude vessels or boats of variousforms hot gas is provided.

strictly buoys wherewit-h the combination claimed may be useful.

It will be seen in Figs. 3 and 2 that if the buoy runs out of carbid the movement of the rodf toward the left beyond its usual range will cause it to ride up on the adjacent portion of the casing shown and thereby disconnect itself from allowing the valve to fall and close, ready for recharging. It will also be seen that the buoy is well adapted for'shallow waters where it may sometimes partly rest upon the bottom at low tide, for the water level within it can be maintained by having the valve H tightly closed. Manifestly, also, in other, situations "the valve may be used slightly open to allow the water in the chamber gradually to change and the sediment automatically wash out b' the wave action, or, in calm weather, by t e action of varying gas pressure.

Obviously-some features of this invention may be used without others and the invennon may be embodied in widely varying forms.

Therefore, without limiting the invention to the devices shown and described, and without enumerating equivalents, I claim provided with a diaphragm the arm 6,

and desire to obtain by'Letters Patent the ing and closing the aperture at the lower end of the water chamber and egress of water chamber.

2. In a gas buoy," the combination with to control the ingress for the generating the body or float, of a carbid hopper, carbid feeding mechanism provided with a diaphragm controlling the same, a gas generating chamber carried by the float having an opening in the bottom thereof, whereby the water or generating purposes may be admitted to the chamber, the resistance to pressure afforded by the diaphragm substantially balancing the normal gas pressure in the gas chamber.

3. In a gas buoy, the combination of a body or fioat, a generating chamber carried thereby having an opening in the bottom thereof, a'valve for said opening, means for opening and closing said valve, a carbid hopper, a carbid valve, and valve mechanism provided with an expansible and collapsible diaphragm for controlling said carbid valve.

4. In a gas buoy, the combination of a body or float, a gas generating chamber carried thereby having an opening in its bottom for the entrance of the surrounding water and egress of residuum, a valve for said opening whereby the water may be trapped in the chamber, and carbid feeding mechanism responsive to the gas pressure for controlling said feedin mechanism, the. resistance't'o pressure af forded by the dia h'ragm substantially bal ancing the norma gas pressure in the gas chamber.

5. .In a gas buoy the combination of a bodyor float, earb1d feeding mechanism, a gas generating chamber having an opening in its bottom for admitting and expelling sea water, and a valve and valve operating connections for the said opening whereby water may be trapped and a constant working level maintained unaffected by the vanations of gas pressure.

6. In a gas buoy, the combination of the water chamber having an opening for the ingress and egress o the water, a valve therefor, a rod for actuating the said valve anal stirring blades also actuated by the said ro 7.v In a gas buoy, the combination of the water chamber having an opening for the ingress and egress of the water, a valve therefor, a rod for actuating the said valve and stirring blades also actuatedby the said rod, the said rod having means for adjusting it longitudinally and means for rotating 8. In a gas buoy, the combination of a body or float, a gas generatin chamber therein having an opening-in its ottom for Water, a valve and valve operating connections for said opening whereby water may be trapped and" a constant working level maintained unaffected b the variations of as pressure, and a carbid opper, and a car id valve therefor provided with carbid feeding -mechanism and an expansible diaphragm and means independent of mid /generating mechanism for controlling the sa opening.

10. The combination of a body or float,.

a generating chamber having an opening or terial to water, includm able means'fo'r actuating t e said mechanism 'adapted'to generate gas at will depressingthe water in the said chamber and causing.

passageway to the water around the body orfloat, said chamberbeing at least' partly below the lev'eliof said water whenfloating, gas generating mechanismcontrolle'd by the pressure of gas generated independently of the movement o her and comprising-means for feeding a stream of one of the gas-making materials and interrupting such' stream.

water within said cham- 11. The combination of a body or float,

a generating chamber having an opening or passageway to the wateraround the body or floatfsaid chamber being at least artially below the level of the said water w on floating, whereby water is admitted to the chamber under pressure through the said opening, gas generating'mechanism for automatically feeding a gas generating mamanually operegress through the 0 ening.

In testimony whereof NELSON GOODYEAR.

Witn'esses:

E. VAN ZANDT, A. OBnmN.

e have signed this specification in the presence of two SIIbSOIlbing witnesses. 

